Invitation to Africans and Black Community Activists
On Friday, the 25th of August 2006. At 7pm in Oromo Horn von Afrika Zentrum, Prinzenallee 81, Berlin.
There will be a meeting of Africans and Black Community activists on the proposed “Africa Conference Forum” with discussion about our participation in the NEXT OPEN meeting on the 9th and 10th of September 2006 in Berlin.
Telephone Contact of Persons in Berlin and Brandenburg:
Christopher N., Handy: 0178 6882799
Eben C., Handy: 0177 6561718
Gaston E., Handy: 0173 1889722.
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Please make this invitation text public only to Africans and Black Community activists!
We would like to request for comments and proposals for discussions on the
proposed "Africa Conference Forum" meetings in Berlin.
The activists should confirm their interest to participation.
We would like to stress on the fact that the initiative for the “Africa
Conference Forum” is mainly to strengthen and to consolidate the
participation of the Africans and the black community activists in the
network.
We therefore appeal to all the friends, activists and groups that cannot
participate to support by informing other Africans and the Black community
activists.
Thanks
Initiative for the proposed “Africa Conference Forum” Germany
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Info on the proposed "Africa Conference Forum" Meeting in Berlin, 09 & 10. Sept. 2006
Please send your comments or additional proposals for the next meeting
which have been proposed to take place on the 09th and 10th of September
2006 in Berlin.
https://thevoiceforum.org/afc_community
The followings were the proposals for further deliberations made at the first meeting in Goettingen
1. Building a network of African opinion.
2. Having a loose alternative structure.
3. Educating ourselves by knowing ourselves and the political interest.
4. Networking through events which could be political and cultural etc.
5. Analyse the postponed Black Community Congress in Bielefeld since 2003.
We will appreciate that the Africans and the Black community activists that are interested to JOIN US in the proposed network of an Africa Conference Forum in Germany should go through the protocol of the first meeting in goettingen and feel free to send their proposals and comments.
We have contacted some African initiatives, the Black community and Africans in the antiracist and Exile political organisations in Germany for participation:
(Afrikarat), ISD - Initiatives of The Black people in Germany, Adefra, The VOICE Refugee Forum network, The Brandenburg Refugee Initiatives, SOS- Struggles of Students, ARA - African refugees and the Refugee Emancipation, International Campaign against dictatorship in Togo, Oury Jalloh Initiative, Caravan and Plataforma for the rights of refugees and
migrants, Global Black Congresses
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Additional proposals and comments:
Reports, discussions and proposals on our political experiences and information exchange in relation to the issues on the Africa socio–political conflicts and the European marginalisation of Africa.
-Developing a politically grass root structures for the collective engagement of activists’ networking in the African community
-Further discussions and proposals on the aims and objectives of the network
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Why and how do we come together for a political network? What can we do? What have we archived from the Goettingen meeting in June? How did we find the first meeting of the African activists in Goettingen? Have we exhausted the programme of the first meeting? If not, what was wrong with the programme? Are we summarising the protocol and the discussions so far on the objectives and Perspective of meetings for info bulletin?
Discussing other proposals outside the proposed name “Africa Conference Forum”
– under the slogan: “Africa is not far from us” Please see the invitation to the Goettingen meeting below.
What do we expect from the next meetings?
Can we promote an ATMOSPHERE or an open space for critically political issues and conflict resolution in the structure of the network, for the better understanding of ourselves and the communities in general?
Exchanging of information and experiences in the networking of the African communities.
Defining a common approach to develop a collective POSITION in the interest of the activists to serve the African communities.
Socio - political and cultural issues that could bring us together politically to realise a common dream for an alternative struggle in support of the ongoing political activities in the African and Black communities.
Who are the Africans in Germany? And where are they? What do they do? Who are the activists? Who are we? Who in the various political groups or organisations do we need to contact?
Evaluate the structural vulnerability in the daily exploitation by the Capitalist monsters of world and our active roles in the development of basic democracy within the communities of the minorities, and the challenges faced in the African communities to develop alternative sources and ways of information for self organisation.
Info Bulletin:
The proper documentation in the course of our discussions in the various initiatives could be helpful for the African community.
Objective Empowerment in the collective network on: The socio-political crises and conflicts in Africa and The European racial marginalisation of Africa.
Define the engagements and responsibilities in the network.
osaren
end
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Minutes of the African activists meeting in Germany that took place on
03/04.06 20006 in Goettingen
On proposed “African Conference Forum”.
"Africa is not far from us -"Between Racism, Exclusion, Colonial conspiracy and Death"
Opening remarks was made on the Networking of the African political Activists from the different regions of Germany, after which the participants introduced themselves.
The discussions were made as short as possible and in the language best understood by the speakers but translated where necessary.
Discussion were summarised on furthering politically an alternative structure of African activists network for an "Africa Conference Forum" on the socio - political conflicts of Africa and the racial marginalisation in Europe, which was limited to our experiences on racism and self - organisation in the political network in Germany.
The discussion started with a parade on the evils of racism and how we should share experiences to finding a way out. Reaching out to colleagues who are at large was seen as important as well as groups with whom we've worked together in the past.
The majority agreed that we find a way to broker a network, expand our work and consolidate our positions on the social political conflicts in Africa and the European Marginalisation of Africa. We should be able to chart a course for ourselves and not thinking of starting a new group at every given opportunity.
Networking have always been important but we have to be focused to effect changes.
We should define the racism that confronts us and specify on the racism against Africans or against blacks and to develop ideas or proposals to tackle these problems that confront us.
We may have short term campaigns but how do we push our demands through politically?
Are we constantly under threat? To this question the answer was yes; Africans and blacks here are often vulnerable to the policies of exclusion and deportation threats, discrimination by state and in the public institutions or in the streets of Germany and Europe:
How we ward off racist attacks and exclusions with the other forms of discriminations, defend ourselves; mobilise to inform ourselves about the racism and the sufferings in the exploitations, and probably communicate with groups back home in our home countries in continuation of a viable and effective network here, to have multiple approach to fighting racism were questions that engaged the minds of the participants.
That we should use all the means possible to mobilise ourselves for the long time expectation for realisation of the focus objectives and structures to overcome the problems despite the existence of few politically consistent groups and activists but are still active till now.
It is high time we thought of establishing alternate structures of an African community to those directing our fate and the affairs of state.
We are not wanted here even if you are a student. How do we connect or network with group that fight or represents victims of racist attacks.
That racism has pronounced our death here and back home. The problems of racism we encounter here are German/European human rights abuses which are also exported to our home countries in relation to the socio political conflicts and the European marginalisation. The deportation should be challenge against the disappearance in the African communities and against discrimination by the laws which rapes and exploit every part of our dignity and survival. It is like “fighting from the stomach of the monsters”
Those deported have not been able to inform on the situation in Germany / Europe, but if they do this is not to our knowledge.
Our fight against racism should be coordinated and not dispersed and concrete proposals to fight racism should be the question on our minds.
We should work towards establishing or consolidating an African Community.
Inform ourselves through meetings and Internet Reach out to as many Africans as possible but the practical mobilization of the African communities should be the main structure to be developed, established or consolidated.
The need to involve African activists in the various political networks of The African Council (Afrikarat)in Berlin and the older groups of the politically organised Africans and the black communities like ISD -Initiatives of The Black people in Germany, The VOICE Refugee Forum, The Brandenburg Refugee Initiatives and the Refugee Emancipation, International Campaign against dictatorship in Togo and Oury Jalloh Initiative that will be extended to African Activists and critics in the anti- racist, in the political and cultural initiatives of the African nationalities and communities with participation of students, artists and academics should be seen as a good idea,.
. . . Despite all this we can still come together as individuals or organisations.
African activists from the various anti racist groups and organisations have been engaged in the last 12 years in fighting in their struggles for the rights of refugees, for freedom of movement, against racism and against deportations in the various parts of Germany, against the past-military and the dictatorship regimes, for the freedom of the political prisoners, the environmental destructions and exploitation by the multinational concerns and their European collaborations in Africa and Colonialism . . .
Despite these many Africans have been deported and some had to relocate.
Activists reported on the meeting and problem confronted in proposed congress of the black community congress in 2003 when about 65 participants from African and Black communities met in Germany 3 years ago in Bielefeld, the problems are diverse irrespective of being students, Afro-deutsch, refugees etc and there were mutual distrust, lack of respect or understanding for one another.
In Berlin for example there is no place for Africans to do their things without interference.
The word Black or Schwarz in the black German mentality have negative meanings, examples are the Schwarzfahrer, Schwarzgeld, Schwarzarbeiter etc.
In developing alternative structure for self determination should be base on the self-organisational platform of volunteers with critical positions on hierarchies and dominance in the network. That been said we should learn to do things ourselves or else others will do it for us- we should articulate our problem by ourselves..
It is important to note that many of us may be more occupied with personal economic success than the political struggles for the broader interest.
To develop a Platform of the courageous individuals or activists and the
Groups in our struggles are important for the alternative lobby in the community that can project the common strategies together and to fight this evil –of- our time in the daily confrontation by our being pro-active in the community.
Further, it is easy for the public to run away from problems rather to stopping them.
The racist attack on the German of Ethiopian origin in Brandenburg was a
Situation we should have utilised the self confidence in our political determination to express our concerns and about our plight in the Diasporas.
It was also added that we should make ourselves noticeable and make moves to solving our problems rather than raising public sympathies.
Documentation should be an important aspect of the networking. Such documents can be sent home to support similar initiatives of groups and organisations, and to inform ourselves about the struggles in the African communities in Germany and Europe.
We should develop new ideas to change our fate and inform more about the Interventions of Germany - Europe in the African countries.
We should intensify our mobilisation of the Africans and make it the basis of our structure and should not bite more than we can chew.
The meeting considered the question and concerns for right of residence for the undocumented people.
We should intensify efforts on mobilising the African community while continuing our daily work.
We should also be aware of the problems of discriminations even among ourselves e g people from different African countries from tribalism to the colonial heritage or to the religion with the political conflicts not-withstanding the cultural diversity in the African communities.
We should strive here to build a foundation or structure of an African political platform and be willing to evaluate or deliberate on ideas or suggestions for probable adoption. If we may reject certain persons it is wise not to reject their proposals without proper evaluation. At the same time we should also be self critical.
A passing question was raised if we were making documentation on racist attacks and actions taken.
We should begin with intensive documentation of the whole process of the “African conference forum” initiatives for the online discussions on the way forward, to improve the quality of discussion and communication with an effective editorial network to facilitate the quality of information with documentation on the political struggles in the network. We should try to develop a cultural perspective in the alternative structure through solidarity initiatives that can express the dynamics in our culture and its diversity in the African communities for the socio political understanding of the people.
We all agreed to organise further discussions of the Goettingen and for the next nationwide meeting of African Conference Forum meetings in Bochum, Berlin and Brandenburg.
The followings were the proposals for further deliberations made at the
meeting:
1. Building a network of African opinion.
2. Having a loose alternate structure.
3. Educating ourselves by knowing ourselves and the political interest.
4. Networking through events which could be political, cultural, sports etc.
5. Analyse the postponed Black Community Congress in Bielefeld since 2003.
Date of the next meeting: Saturday 9th and 10th September, 200 in Bochum
Proposals for the next meeting should be collected
Here are additional Proposals for future discussions:
Is racism only about white against the black?
It is open question for critical evaluation that maybe needed to express and define our objectives for a common goal.
The chances of developing alternative structures for African co-operatives and service sectors in the African communities Internal mailing lists for the African Conference Forum “acf_community” will be open to facilitate online contribution to the discussions and for the transparency in our communication.
This presentation could become part of the publication for the "info bullettin" of the network
stay well in solidarity
osaren
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eng/dt/fr.) Programm: "Africa is not far from us - Between Racism,
Exclusion, Colonial conspiracy and Death"
(Dt/Eng)Update information: AfrikanTreffenGöettingen am 3. und 4. Juni2006
https://thevoiceforum.org/node/375
"Africa is not far from us - Between Racism, Exclusion, Colonial
conspiracy and Death"
Invitation for an open meeting of African activists in Goettingen, 3 – 4
June 2006.
Place: Arbeit und Leben House, Lange Geismar Str: 73. Goettingen.
We will meet to discuss the proposal for an "Africa Conference Forum" on:
The socio - political conflicts and racial marginalisation in Europe.
Programm
Saturday, 03.06.06:
Begin – 13:00pm
-Introduction of Participants and comments or additional proposals on the programme of the meeting
14:00 Hour:
Brief comments by participants on Racism in Germany and the
German/European collaboration in the Socio-Political Conflicts in Africa will be collected:
Fascists and Nazi / Police (Border Police) - Attacks, Brutality,
Criminalisation and Murder of Africans in the recent years in Germany
-Restriction of movement in Germany:
-International fascist border - regimes with African states' collaboration
that have resulted to the death of several Africans at the borders of
Europe.
16.00 Hour - Short Break
Deportations of Africans from Germany -Europe and the deportations to the European sponsored deportation camps in Africa.
International Campaign against Dictatorship in Africa and the corruptive collaborations of the West.
The German Army and Multinational co-operate intervention in Congo
The Struggles of African activists for basic rights in Germany
18:00 pm
Eating together
20:00 – 22:00
Continuation of the discussions
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Sunday, 04.06.06: Begin - 09:00am
Discussions and Proposals on the "Africa Conference Forum"
We will discuss the following issues in Workshops:
1st Workshops:
What does it mean to live in Germany/Europs as an African? What does it mean to live here as an asylum seeker or migrant? How are the living conditions in our home countries? What are the political and economic situations in our home countries like? What has Germany/ Europe to do with that?
2nd Workshops
Proposal for a political structure and its composition, Demands and Objectives of the proposed "African Conference Forum" in Germany
Final plenary session with the results of working groups Co-ordination and the continuity on local, regional and national levels and Future events and the next meetings.
The aim of the meeting is to communicate and collect information together and to discuss a common ground where we can pro-actively execute our engagements.
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eng/dt/fr.: "Africa is not far from us" - Meeting of African activists in Goettingen, Germany.
Invitation for an open meeting of African activists in: Goettingen, 3 – 4 June 2006.
We will meet to discuss the proposal for an "Africa Conference Forum" on:
The socio - political conflicts and racial marginalisation in Europe.
Dear all,
we want to inform all participants that the proposed "Africa Conference Forum" will be aimed at sharing our views on the socio – political conflicts in Africa and the racial marginalisation in Europe, including deportations and colonial conspiracies with the African embassies.
To create a political structure that will help to consolidate the engagement of the African activists and to find out what is common in the political interest of the participants' positions geared to organising an African Conference.
Strengthening our unity by confronting the divisions within and beyond nationality, class, age, language, religion and the colonial education.
Strengthening the political structure for grassroots mobilisation of the Africans in Germany.
- Reports on what is going on in the different cities and regions of Germany.
Can we succeed in building a regional and nationwide Platform of African activists for active engagement in managing the socio – political conflicts in Africa and against racial marginalisation?
Your comments will be appreciated.
Thanks
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Please you are informed to make this text public to Africans and Black Community activists!
We like to request for comment and proposal for discussions from the interested activists and from the participants!
We do appreciate the interest of the participating Africans to comment and send proposals on the proposed "Africa Conference Forum" and to confirm their participation in the Goettingen meeting that will take place on the 3rd and 4th of June 2006.
We appeal to all the friends, activists and groups that cannot participate in the meeting to support us by reaching other Africans, help to inform them or to distribute the invitation further.
Feel free to join us,
Thanks
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“Africa is not far from us” – Meeting of African activists in Germany
Invitation for an open meeting of African activists in: Goettingen, 3 - 4
June 2006.
We will meet to discuss the proposal for an “Africa Conference forum” on:
The socio – political conflicts and racial marginalisation in Europe:
The proposal of The VOICE Refugee Forum for the “Africa Conference Forum” is an attempt to develop an open space for African activists on the political issues of Africa and to articulate the chances and the challenges that can enhance our active participation in a future African conference, to develop together within the African communities in Germany an alternative source of political structures and information exchange on the socio – political conflicts of Africa and racial marginalisation in Europe.
We are calling for an open forum for information exchange in sharing the political experiences in the daily struggles for survival and for our well being with the African activists, to enhance the political resources of the Africa Conference Forum in Germany.
Proposals for contents, - the political structure, our demands and further appeals of the conference will be collected for discussions.
All interested Africans and activists from Africa are welcome to
participate in the meetings.
Please feel free to join us.
Programm, place and time of the meeting in Göttingen will be communicated
.
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Information events with Africans: 27th of April in Hof and 12th of May 2006 in Nürnberg
We will discuss the following issues:
What does it mean to live in Germany/Europs as an African?
What does it mean to live here as an asylum seeker?
What are the living conditions in our home countries?
What is the political situation in our home countries like?
What has Germany/Europe to do with that?
The aim of the meeting is to communicate together, to dicuss what we can do together.
In June there will be a Forum for Germanwide meeting on Africa with the aim of developing a network of Africans activists in Germany.
Initiative for the proposed “Africa Conference Forum” in Germany